Mitch Perry - page 515

It took a little longer than anticipated, but the city of Tampa has now joined at least 38 other communities across the U.S. in developing a bike share program. It’s starting out modestly, with approximately 100 bikes available for anyone in the public to access in “hubs” rather than stations in downtown, Hyde Park, Ybor City, Davis Island and Channelside. Coast Bike Share ultimately says the program could be expanded to up to 300 bikes in 27 “hubs,” moving into…

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In a speech that virtually screamed of presidential ambition, Marco Rubio said today that while he is not anti-Wall Street, it’s time for the GOP to become the party for a struggling middle class who now believe that the American dream is something that may no longer be attainable. “They feel this way because despite the fact that they’re doing everything they used to do,” he said. “They are working hard, they haven’t had a raise in years, and yet…

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In late 2011, Mayor Bob Buckhorn announced a major agreement with Tampa Electric Company. The local energy provider was to install 8,400 new streetlights at a cost of $2.2 million over a five-year period. The “Bright Lights/Safe Nights” program was hailed by City Councilman Frank Reddick in particular, since the vast majority of those lights would be installed in underserved areas of the city most needed in his district, such as in East Tampa, Ybor City and Sulpher Springs. But…

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For the longest time in Tallahassee, criticism regarding Florida’s Public Service Commission had been relegated to Democrats, environmental activist groups and editorial writers at Florida dailies – but its membership is  growing larger by the day. In a split decision last week, the PSC voted to cut energy efficiency targets for investor-owned power companies and eliminate a solar rebate program in the state,  igniting howls of dissent from those above listed groups. Conservatives for Energy Freedom, a Georgia based group…

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In the wake of the electoral trashing that Greenlight Pinellas took on election day last month, local leaders in Hillsborough County pushing for a transit referendum in 2016 have spoken in cautionary tones. “I think the stark reality is, and I think it will become even starker, is that it’s an uphill struggle,” admitted Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn a week after the drubbing took place in Pinellas. But a poll taken of Hillsborough County residents in the immediate aftermath of the…

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There are four people running to be the next chairman of the Republican Party of Florida this weekend — though it’s not an open seat. There’s the current chair, Leslie Dougher. She’s being challenged by Eric Miller, state Rep. Blaise Ingoglia, and former state Rep. Kurt Kelly. Those candidates are scheduled to sit down and debate their merits today in Tampa, though as I write this I’m still uncertain whether the RPOF will allow the media to cover this. Why…

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In what had devolved into a very divisive election in the past week, Susan McGrath defeated Mark Hanisee Thursday night to become the new chair of the Pinellas County Democratic Executive Committee. The final vote was 57-41. McGrath is the president of the Stonewall Democrats and has served the last two years as vice-chair of the Pinellas DEC. She takes over a party that had been led by Hanisee for the past four years. After the vote, the audience inside the second floor…

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